The words blurred into one another, every yellowed page like the one before. I knew that before long, the library would be closing, and a polite steward would come to visit me at my desk. I couldn’t afford to stop my search now. Tonight was the night of the Supermoon. If I were unable to find the words there would be a great calamity in the district and all my searching would have been in vain. I was almost there, of this I was certain. Rapidly flicking through the pages to page 298 I noticed a scribble in the margin. Was this the incantation I had been seeking? Sadly I would not be able to find out as without warning the lights were extinguished and alarms started to sound throughout the previously almost silent hall.

A highly charged voice came out of the speakers in firm but polite tones, “Ladies and gentlemen, the management apologise for this interruption but we would kindly ask everyone to make their way to the fire exits, there is no cause for panic.”

This was my chance. Picking up the heavy tome, I tucked it under my arm and attempting to suppress my feeling of guilt, concealed it under my cloak. Making my way to the nearest exit I gave my name to the attendant that he may strike it from his list of subscribers, in assurance of my safety, and set off down the road in order that I might continue my researches before the night’s trials that I would have to face if I was to rid the world of this ancient evil for this lunar period at least.

I stood at the side of the lake looking up, “yes, it’s almost dark, I thought, so I can get this awful clammy suit off, I have collected what I came for, ” suppressing a slight giggle at the unintentioned pun. Reaching between my legs I released the carefully concealed catch and the smooth, velvet-like, false skin peeled all the way around. With a little effort, due to the tightness of the fit I was able to pull the head and torso over the top of my scalp to hang like a deflated balloon around my waist before rolling the lower half down my legs to the gound. It lay on the bank, a shapeless porcine, sluglike mass. My whole body shuddered, “Yuk, ” I thought, “how do they look at themselves in this, it’s creepy. ”

The air felt cool against my scales and once more checking that the shore was deserted I picked up the bundle and walked down to the water’s edge. Slowly, eagerly, slipping into the cold waters I prepared to swim down to the bottom to meet up with the rest of my clan. Once again I had completed my task and my ever-growing family would continue to expand.

I thought about my encounter the previous evening with the one who said his name was Brian, “he must have thought that his luck was in when I started coming on to him. Well, he did look a little lonely sitting in the corner. It had been hard work trying to convince him that my intentions were purely to have a good time. After I had established his capacity to satisfy my needs by having once been married with a family but now alone and in need of some company. He could never have guessed the real reason for my eagerness. If he could see me now he would swear that it had all been a bad dream, very bad, after he had stopped being sick of course. Even the funny video camera he had used, for reference purposes, his words not mine, would have been thrown away I’m sure. I had been a little worried at one stage, wondering if the sample I needed could be collected from where he suggested but we soon sorted that problem out. Now I was able to carry some more of the human sperm back to the colony where it would help in our next spawning. Not too many more trips and there would be enough of us to break free from the waters and start our slow colonisation of the land.”

One of Britain’s best-loved radio presenters, Simon Mayo will be discussing his life and career, as well as his debut adult novel in the first Ilkley Literature Festival event of 2018 at the Kings Hall on Tuesday 24 April.

The host of BBC Radio 2’s Drivetime show and co-presenter of Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review on BBC Radio 5 Live is one of the best-known voices in radio, but Simon Mayo is also a passionate reader, regularly hosting the Radio Two Book Club as part of his show. He is the author of several books for children and young adults, including the popular Itch series.

Along with discussing his career in broadcasting, Simon will be introducing his first book for adults Mad Blood Stirring, which tells the story of a thousand black American sailors held captive in Dartmoor Prison in the largely forgotten Second War of American Independence.

Rachel Feldberg, Festival Director said,

‘We are looking forward to kicking off 2018 with Simon Mayo. He is the voice of the end of the day commute for so many, but he is also a great advocate for books and reading.’

Simon Mayo will be at the Kings Hall on Tuesday 24 April at 7.30pm. Tickets are £14/10 and can be booked online at www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk from 10am on Wednesday 28 February.